Atty. James T. McDermott
Jim McDermott is head of the firm’s Litigation and Insurance Recovery practice groups. Mr.
Profile Summary
About James T. McDermott at a glance
James T. McDermott is a Partner based in Portland, Oregon, practicing at Ball Janik LLP. They have 40+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1986. Their practice focuses on employment, construction, litigation, environmental, and insurance. Admitted to practice in District of Columbia (1986), Pennsylvania (Inactive) (1986), U.S. District Court District of Columbia (1987), and U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit (1987). Educated at University of Virginia School of Law (J.D. Member, 1985) and Syracuse University (B.S. Accounting, 1982). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Portland, OR and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Jim McDermott is head of the firm’s Litigation and Insurance Recovery practice groups
- Mr. McDermott is a commercial business litigator and trial lawyer who represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex cases
- He has tried scores of cases and argued appeals in federal and state courts on a broad range of issues for nationally known public and private companies, small businesses, and individuals
- Mr. McDermott has been recognized as an industry leader by Chambers USA with peers highlighting his “forceful stance and impressive technical skills.” They have also called him a “very impressive lawyer” with an “extremely responsive, client-focused litigation management approach” who provides “smart advice that is always on the money,” and he is “on top of his game when it comes to strategy.” Mr. McDermott has received the AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale–Hubbell®
- He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Insurance
- and Litigation – Securities
- He has been perennially selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers list, published by Super Lawyers Magazine
- In 2013, Mr. McDermott was listed as one of "Oregon's Top Rated Lawyers" by ALM Legal Leaders, published by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazine, affiliated with Martindale-Hubbell®
- Mr. McDermott has successfully handled cases involving a wide array of large-dollar commercial business disputes, with particular emphasis on construction, corporate governance, shareholders rights, professional liability, securities, regulatory, false claims, civil penalty actions, real estate, and insurance recovery
- He has successfully resolved claims and lawsuits in a wide range of insurance areas, recovering millions of dollars for clients from domestic and foreign insurers
- His insurance recovery practice ranges from large-scale litigation on behalf of corporate policyholders under complex occurrence-based and claims-made coverages, to individual claims under property, disability, health, and other personal policies
- Mr. McDermott has been retained to represent brokers and agents and reinsurance intermediaries – including some of the largest firms in the world – when they become enmeshed in coverage disputes and litigation
- After earning his law degree Mr. McDermott served for one year as a judicial law clerk to a federal district court judge
- He then joined Covington & Burling, the largest law firm in Washington, DC, where he practiced for five years
- He has chaired Ball Janik’s litigation practice since 1998
- Throughout his career, Mr. McDermott has authored articles on environmental and business insurance coverage matters, construction issues, lectured on a wide range of legal and business issues, and taught trial practice courses
- He has been appointed as an arbitrator in several cases and has served as an expert witness in insurance coverage cases, construction cases, and attorneys’ fee disputes
- Mr. McDermott has also served on the Governor of Oregon’s Judicial Screening Committee
- To view Mr. McDermott's mastery in the courtroom, click here to see him successfully argue on behalf of WaferTech, LLC before the Washington State Supreme Court on November 8, 2011, and here to see his oral argument before the Oregon Supreme Court on behalf of Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. Honors AV® Preeminent™ Rating Martindale–Hubbell®, American Registry Chambers USA Industry Leader, Litigation/Commercial, 2009–2017 The Best Lawyers in America©, 2013–2017 Recognized as one of “Oregon's Top Rated Lawyers” in 2013 by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazine, published by ALM Legal Leaders, affiliated with Martindale–Hubbell®
- Oregon Super Lawyers list, 2006–2016 Recognized in 2013 Super Lawyers Business Edition, The List, Litigation Named in the Irish Voice's “2013 Irish Legal 100”
Practice Areas Explained
James T. McDermott's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases James T. McDermott handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
James T. McDermott is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Oregon →
James T. McDermott is one of 40,689 construction attorneys indexed nationally. Browse construction attorneys in Oregon →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
James T. McDermott is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Oregon →
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
James T. McDermott is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in Oregon →
Insurance attorneys for coverage disputes, bad faith claims, denied claims, and policy disputes.
James T. McDermott is one of 121,912 insurance attorneys indexed nationally. Browse insurance attorneys in Oregon →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Oregon
Practicing law in Oregon. Legal matters in Oregon are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Portland are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Oregon state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Oregon brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Oregon courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Oregon attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Portland or all attorneys in Oregon.
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